THE UNIQUE HEROES OF MARVEL'S “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY”

“I think ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ has one of the best ensemble casts for an origin movie that Marvel has ever had because it is so eclectic,” producer Kevin Feige says on the approach to casting the unique characters in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

We didn’t set out to cast a relative unknown for the lead nor movie stars for the voices of Rocket and Groot, it just evolved liked that, again, because we had the freedom to say ‘anybody’s on the table’ for this one.”

An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

The film's main protagonist Peter Quill is played by Chris Pratt (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Moneyball”). Quill is an interstellar adventurer who was abducted from Earth at a young age. After recovering an ancient artifact, Quill must rally an unlikely team of cosmic misfits to prevent a powerful villain from destroying the galaxy.

Zoe Saldana (the “Star Trek” and “Avatar” film franchises) plays Gamora, an orphan from an alien world who was raised by the mysterious Thanos to become the perfect weapon. As Thanos’ personal assassin, Gamora has earned a reputation as a formidable warrior. Gamora now seeks redemption for her past crimes.

A physical brute, Drax is played by Filipino-American former professional wrestler Dave Bautista (“Riddick”). Drax has a personal vendetta against Ronan, who killed his family. Now fueled by pure rage, Drax will stop at nothing to take his revenge on the most dangerous being in the galaxy.
Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) descends from a race of walking flora and resembles a sentient tree. Despite his strange appearance and limited communication skills, Groot proves to be a valuable ally and a loyal friend—not only to his fellow bounty hunter Rocket but to the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy as well.

Finally, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is a bounty hunter and mercenary whose mastery of weapons and battle tactics make him a formidable warrior, despite being a genetically altered, cybernetically enhanced, talking raccoon. The result of traumatic biological experimentation, Rocket is a genuine gun-toting badass and mechanical genius who has a huge chip on his shoulder.
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” opens across the Philippine on Thursday, July 31, 2014.

Experience the best of Dubai’s shopping offerings with Cebu Pacific

 Dubai is the shopaholics paradise, you can find almost anything here from skincare to bags to chocolates to electronics, on sale, all year round. Think anything you want and voila! Dubai is the answer.

Beyond its impressive skyscrapers, a seven-star hotel, and romantic desert safari, there are countless reasons why Dubai has skyrocketed on top of every stylish traveler’s bucket list. The city has transformed shopping into an art with its highly anticipated annual shopping festival, glamorous malls, atmospheric souks, and the best of high-end brands and quirky finds that are available. Cebu Pacific, the country’s leading airline, offers every Juan the chance to explore the best that Asia’s emerging shopping juggernaut has to offer, as it flies direct from Manila to Dubai.

Scarves abound at Dubai souks in a variety of color and prints.

Dubai’s definitive shopping festivals.
 Held annually from January to February when the Dubai weather is at its coolest, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is more than just a shopaholic’s paradise where tourists can score as much as 70-percent off on glam finds. Attracting more than 3 million people to Dubai every year, the DSF also features film festivals, fashion shows, and fantastic street performances. Those who want to plan their shopping strategies can find out more about this shopping festival on www.mydsf.ae.

From spices to stylish slippers, the souks in Dubai are a feast for the senses

Tourists who want to avoid the peak season and the throng of buyers during the Shopping Festival can visit its summer version, the Dubai Summer Surprises, which is held yearly from July to August. Offering citywide promos and sales, this more family-oriented shopping festival offers plenty of attractions for kids of all ages—from playgrounds and soft toy areas, to the latest video games and a 4D cinema. Another must-see stop for young adventurers is the Modhesh World's Summer Camp, a 37,000-square-meter indoor summer playground that is home to uniquely themed educational and entertainment zones. Plan an amazing Dubai summer experience by visiting www.summerisdubai.com.



The best of high-end shopping.
The Dubai Mall, the city’s biggest mall, is also the world’s most visited destination for three consecutive years. This 500,000 square-meter behemoth houses over 1,200 shops as well as the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and the SEGA Republic theme park. The mall will continue to expand to accommodate the influx of visitors, adding new personalized and flagship stores of famous international fashion brands to its Fashion Avenue. Meanwhile, the Mall of the Emirates, recognized as the world’s first-ever shopping resort, houses over 500 international brands, from fashion and lifestyle to sports and electronics. Aside from designer and boutique brands such as the Harvey Nichols department store, the mall houses a traditional Arabian souk-themed section lined with 26 stores. For tourists looking for alternative yet equally stylish shopping spots beyond the bigger malls, the less frequented Wafi Mall and Mercato Mall are quieter but are as stunning with their Egyptian and European inspired architectures and wide selection of designer brands and interesting crafts shops.

Strolling around Dubai’s charming souks.
 While its massive malls may have earned Dubai its world-class reputation as a shopping destination, a visit to the city will not be complete without experiencing the lively and vibrant traditional souks that showcase local handicrafts, textiles, and spices. Immerse in the surplus of aromas, from frankincense to exotic herbs and spices, at the Deira Spice Souk. At the colorful Deira Gold Souq, there is all-day glitter with jewelry and gold on display in shop windows summoning the attention of those looking for bling. The city’s oldest market place is located in Sharjah, and the now air-conditioned alleyways of this covered market is filled with souks, bazaars, and shops that sell an abundance of finds from antique handicrafts, wooden Arabic wood pieces, handmade jewelries, and hand-woven garments, and novelties.

The cosmopolitan city of Dubai is also getting ready to make it even bigger in the international area, winning the right to host the World Expo 2020. The first Middle Eastern city to host the trade exhibition, Dubai is adopting the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and is set to build a huge exhibition center, new hotels, entertainment venues, and improved public transportation, among other developments. For more information, visit www.dubaitourism.ae. Explore the best of Dubai shopping with Cebu Pacific Air with year-round fares starting for as low as P4,999. Plan ahead and get baggage allowance up to 40 kilos for your shopping finds too! Visit www.cebupacificair.com and book your flight now.

Jollibee's Amazing Aloha Champ is back!

 My favorite Amazing Aloha is back, this is my one complete meal that keeps me going throughout the day, with its juiciest patty, cheese, lettuce and pineapple. The right combination for me.

This July, those looking for an #Amazing burger experience can get their hands on the new Amazing Aloha Champ from Jollibee. Made with a 1/3 pound 100% pure beef patty topped with a juicy pineapple slice, crispy bacon strips, honey mustard dressing, lettuce and cheese, you can expect amazing langhap-sarap in every bite!

Price:
P145 Solo
P179 Value Meal with regular fries and drink
P190 Super Value Meal with regular fries and Coke or Sarsi Float

Available for a limited time only in Jollibee stores nationwide.

Antistax helps you attain healthy legs

Supermodel, entrepreneur and mom Ms. Tweety De Leon-Gonzales the Antistax ambassadress together with host Gelli Victor shared to the media their secrets to sexy long legs in "Tea Time with Tweetie and Ellie" at the Chi Spa Shangri-la Hotel last July 3, 2014. Ms. Tweety de Leon told that she begins her day by eating healthy and juicing fruits. She plays squash, that alone requires a lot of leg movement, and dwells on her passion for making "charms" jewelry.  

She shows us around these stations and share her passion for what makes her the good model that she is by leading a healthy lifestyle, getting a hobby that  makes her happy and earn at the same time, and by practicing a correct posture when walking and posing for the camera.

She takes care of "Ellie" the elephant, a metaphor for leg cramps, the one that drags her legs down by taking  Antistax the leg supplement which is available in tablet and cooling leg gel.

Red wine in small quantities is supposed to be the secret of a long and healthy life, but did you know that the secret of healthy legs is hidden in red vine leaves? It’s true.

For many years, researchers puzzled over the fact that French wine growers almost never suffered from vein disorders. Then they discovered that the farmers were making infusions and poultices from vine leaves to treat their heavy, swollen and painful legs. This home remedy was proving to be a great success.

Pharmacologists analyzed the active ingredients of the red vine leaf and developed it into an effective extract, containing significant amounts of bio-active Flaven. This pure herbal extract is the basis of the Antistax range of products for tired, heavy legs which have been clinically proven to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling.

Strict guidelines determine which leaves can be harvested, to assure the highest quality and content of herbal protective agents. The leaves are carefully rinsed and dried, before being enriched via a special process to obtain bio-active Flaven.

By the way – did you know that one Antistax tablet contains as much bio-active Flaven as you would get from three bottles of red wine? So it delivers good news for your legs without the next morning headache!

Antistax is available in two forms: topical cooling leg gel and in tablets. The cooling gel contains bioactive flaven, a type of flavanoid dried from a special variety of grape leaves, and the calming and cooling properties of peppermint oil and menthol, offering immediate relaxation. On the other hand, the tablet offers a 360mg of the same falavanoid, which may help improve the blood flow in the legs and fight tired, heavy legs.

Antistax - Walking Tips

Walk with your body upright, looking straight ahead, chin pointing slightly downwards, stretching the back of your neck.

Pull your shoulders back and lift your chest.

Pull in your stomach and bottom, keep muscles slightly tensed and try to avoid a hollow back.

Keep your elbows parallel and close to your body, bend your arms slightly allowing them to hang loosely at your side and swing as you walk, with your hands slightly clenched.

Make sure your heel hits the ground first and that you then roll onto the ball of your foot and then your toes.

 Your knees should always be relaxed and not completely straightened.

Always stay relaxed and walk at your own pace.

Henry Cavill Returns as Superman for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

FIRST IMAGE OF HENRY CAVILL AS MAN OF STEEL IN “BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE”

Warner Bros. Pictures has just debuted the first image of Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” the highly anticipated action adventure from director Zack Snyder.

Starring Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, the film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from “Man of Steel,” Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer.  Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.
Principal photography will take place on location at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and on location in and around Detroit, Michigan; Illinois; Africa; and the South Pacific.
Set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

Giordano celebrates 25th anniversary with "World Without Strangers" music festival

The day was set for nostalgia as music unfolds and rocked the whole of Glorietta Activity Center, it was a day to reckon with as some of the filipino great bands joined force for the Giordano's latest campaign "World Without Strangers". The music brings back memory from some of the country's famous bands.

Giordano  celebrates its 25th anniversary by World Without Strangers Music Festival last July 4, 2014 at the Glorietta Activity Center with 8 hours of full opm concert. The musicfest was hosted by Boys Night Out, and featured15 local bands, including Callalily, Sponge Cola, Urbandub, Franco, Up Dharma Down, Gracenote, Techy Romantics, Taken By Cars, Kala, Autotelic,
Join The Club, Cygnet, Maude, Hidden Nikki and Yolanda Moon. It was a free-admission event that starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm everyone rocked on to their favorite bands.

Boys Night Out hosted the eight hour event and  entertained the audience during breaks and shared their antics to the crowd.

Urbandub

Urbandub belted out "The Fight is Over" which is my favorite song from the group. It was amazing how Urbandub still rocked the crowd. They also sang "first of summer".

Franco

This was the first time I saw "Franco" sang live. I always listen to them in my ipod.  I love Franco for its soothing rhythm and reggae appeal  that is inspiring to listen to.

Rico Blanco performed his latest single, ‘World Without Strangers’, the official lyric video of
Giordano Philippines.

“A world without strangers is a borderless one where people walk hand in hand and celebrate life as one,” said Rico Blanco, music icon and Giordano Philippines’ latest brand ambassador.

Set to a light, upbeat tone, the song is about a world where there is no class or cultural divide; a world where everyone is bonded by a familial tie. Guests swooned to Blanco’s comfortingly familiar signature singing style, which put a Filipino stamp on the song that is still relatable to everyone, anywhere in the world. The song’s official lyric video was also launched during the event.


Statement Tee Design winners

The Giordano Statement Tee Design Contest, which attracted a large number of entries, revolved around the “World Without Strangers” theme. Ten designers, five from the male category and another five from the female category, were recognized during the festival. The top 10 designers are Gino Jardinico, Timmy Joy Raymundo, John Angelo Tan, Ivan Marc Robinson, Nadine Encarnacion, Benedict Lim, John Francis Pasicolan, Katherine Francisco and Cathleen Kay Bayani, whose design for both male and female categories were chosen.

The winning designs will be released in Giordano stores by the end of July.

World Without Strangers Citizens

As Giordano rallies for a world without strangers, 12 individuals were also recognized during the festival who have contributed to creating that ideal world. The awardees, called World Without Strangers Citizens, range from social workers to artists, from writers to taxi drivers.

The awardees are: Alex Eduque, volunteer; Jose Yap Dalisay, Palanca award-winning writer; Bengie Reyes, sculptor and furniture designer; Atty. Karen Jimeno, lawyer and social worker; Donnalyn Bartolome, artist and songwriter; Efren Penaflorida, teacher; Sophia Deliu, policewoman; Jovy Sasutona, handicapped painter; Creo Baylon, inventor; Nelson Balmores, a handicapped social worker for Gawad Kalinga; Edita Queras, a tricycle driver; and Doroteo Ochavo, a taxi driver who made news in 2012 for constantly returning things left behind by his passengers.

“We are proud to recognize our first batch of World Without Strangers Citizens. They deserve this recognition because they are doing their share to build a world without strangers, and in doing so have inspired others,” said Bea Lim, Giordano Philippines’ vice president for marketing.

For photos of the event and updates about the World Without Strangers campaign, please visit www.facebook.com/GiordanoPhilippines.

Giordano Creates a World Without Strangers with New Campaign

In celebration of its 25th anniversary in the country, Giordano Philippines launched its World Without Strangers (WWS) campaign along with a new collection built on the brand’s roots and core philosophy. 

“We are going to back to our roots, and we want to remind people what our brand stands for. With WWS, we champion wearable pieces that don’t overshadow the wearer’s personality. And anyone from all walks of life can relate to the pieces,” said Bea Lim, Giordano Philippines’ vice president for marketing. 

Starting July, Giordano stores will showcase the first wave of the WWS collection. Key pieces in the collection are statement tees in solid colors with “World Without Strangers” emblazoned in front. The first phase will feature graphic printed tees in primary colors. The second phase will consist of slogan-printed tees in bright and pastel colors with phrases like “Breaking Barriers”, “Unity Love Respect”, “Just Like You” and “One Song Underneath One Sun”.

The collection also features other styles such as striped tops in different cuts, colored hoodies, two-way denim pants, neppy jeans, sweatshirts and WWS caps. 

“Every piece in the WWS collection is a basic building block to any wardrobe, and it comes to life with the wearer’s personality and taste,” Lim said.

World Without Strangers has always been Giordano’s credo since the brand’s beginnings in Hong Kong. The brand’s classic and timeless quality transcends differences and preferences, making it a brand for everyone, everywhere.

For more information about the WWS Campaign, visit www.facebook.com/GiordanoPhilippines. 

"Foosball" soon to kick balls in PH cinemas.

               As everyone glued their eyes on FIFA 2014, and rooting for their favorite team. Its about time to kick some balls on "Foosball".  With over 2 million admissions in Argentina, home of soccer icons Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, “Foosball” (“Metegol” in Argentine Spanish) is showing in Philippine cinemas very soon.


                “Foosball” (known/retitled in the US as “Underdogs) tells the story of Amadeo, a shy but talented boy, and of a foosball team that is trying to get back together after having been dismantled. With the help of the foosball players, Amadeo will have to face his most terrible rival on the football pitch: the Champ.  Guided by their leader, the charismatic Right Winger, the foosball players and Amadeo will set off on a great adventure together, like a true team, to get back the dignity that the Champ stole from them. Football is the stage on which this story of love, respect, friendship and passion is played out.

Directed by Academy Award Winner Juan José Campanella with animation supervisor Sergio Pablos who also supervised the blockbusters “Rio” and “Despicable Me,”  “Foosball” (English-dubbed version) will open very soon in theatres this 2014 from Axinite Digicinema.   Follow Axinite Digicinema at Facebook and YouTube.

Visit the 27th Corporate Giveaways Buyers' Show at the SMX Convention Center

Upbeat economy results in bullish business gifts industry

The Philippines is currently enjoying revived confidence from domestic and international business, as evidenced by, among other things, upgraded ratings from the world’s leading credit rating agencies. These improvements have directly resulted in an upbeat corporate gifts and rewards industry, poised to take advantage of the increased economic activity.

Hundreds of the country’s most reliable suppliers of business gift items are set to showcase their products and services at the annual Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show, the Philippines longest-running and most successful trade exhibition on business gifts, premiums, promotional ideas and merchandise incentives.

Now on its 27th year, the Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show regularly attracts purchasing managers, marketing and event professionals, HR practitioners, public relations specialists who visit the show to explore and source their year-round business gifts requirements, office solutions and even food and beverage gift options. It is scheduled on July 9-11 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

“We believe the show has become a reliable barometer of the industry’s confidence in the economy. When companies are doing well, they tend to share their success with others. One of the ways this can be seen is in the quality and quantity of the gifts that they hand out during the year.” shares Raquel Romero, President & General Manager of Worldexco, organizers of Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show. 

Corporate Giveaways 2014 is open from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free (only visitors 18 years and above will be admitted). Interested parties can register in advance through www.corporategiveawaysbuyershow.com. Onsite registration at the SMX lobby will also be available during the event proper.

“This is the largest edition of the show in recent years, with an increase of over 50% of exhibition space occupied, compared to 2013. Out of over 100 participating companies, 30 are first-timers to the show, further indicating a boom in the gift-giving industry” adds Romero. “Visitors are sure to find what they need among the thousands of options at Corporate Giveaways 2014.”

APE OF KINGDOM IS BACK IN “DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES”

A RISING NATION UNITED IN “DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES”

                10 years after the Simian Flu virus almost wiped out man’s kind, a nation of apes is thriving despite the virus – growing stronger and multiplies in director Matt Reeves’ most awaited sci-fi action of the year, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” starring Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman and Andy Serkis.

                “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” follows what transpired on the previously released film, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” where Caesar, captured by Serkis, his journey took him from orphaned baby, raised in a human household, to abused prisoner in an insalubrious ape sanctuary, to the liberator of a whole army of apes, artificially evolved to super-intelligent levels by a man-made serum. That film concluded with Caesar’s community disappearing into Muir Woods near San Francisco, before the same serum, in viral form, wiped out most of humanity.

Now, “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” picks up a decade later. The apes live peacefully in their own woodland territory, thinking humanity has gone forever. Then, it turns out there are virus-resistant survivors, struggling to recover in a devastated San Francisco. In this new world, a tense stand-off develops, one which leads to a potentially disastrous ape-versus-human conflict.

                Human and ape have not encountered each other for years. This chapter of the Planet Of The Apes series concerns their ‘first contact’ since the pandemic — and that encounter’s fallout. “There is this question of co-existence,” explains Reeves. “So, this is that one moment when it could have been Planet Of The Humans And Apes. And that’s what we’re exploring in this story: how that fell apart.”  
 

A formidable antagonist for the humans is Koba, played by Toby Kebbell.  The milky-eyed and scar-faced bonobo, introduced in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Koba spent much of his younger life confined in laboratories, where he was subjected to experimentation in the name of science. In the decade following the apes’ liberation, Koba has evolved into a grizzled warrior who harbors a strong hatred of the human race, believing that the only good human is a dead human.

Kebbell, who recently landed the role of the iconic villain Victor Von Doom in The Fantastic Four, says that Koba’s relationship with Caesar is one of “son and father, if not younger brother and older brother.  Caesar is very much in control, and Koba appears to be fine with that.”

A far gentler ape character is Cornelia, the young female chimp who in Rise of the Planet of the Apes was held at the San Bruno Primate Center, and who is played in this film by Judy Greer. Ten years after Caesar’s uprising against humanity, their budding relationship has blossomed. Cornelia is now Caesar’s wife and queen and the mother of his two children: an impatient and sometimes-rebellious adolescent male simian named Blue Eyes, played by Nick Thurston, and a newborn baby chimp.

When Rise of the Planet of the Apes was released, fans immediately recognized that Cornelia was named in tribute to the 1968 film’s lead ape character Cornelius, played by Roddy McDowall.  Given her romantic connection with Caesar, her name is also a historical reference to Cornelia Cinna, the first wife of Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar.

Another ape introduced in the last film, Rocket, played by Terry Notary, is a skilled combatant and one of Caesar’s closest allies. As in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Notary also served as the ape movement coach and stunt choreographer.

Also returning is Karin Konoval, as Maurice, an ex-circus orangutan who was forced to perform for the entertainment of his human captors.  Now the wise elder, Maurice serves as loyal consigliere and advisor, serving Caesar and educating the youth of his ape kingdom.

                “In this movie,” concludes Reeves, “Caesar goes from being a revolutionary to a leader and a father and someone who has to lead through very difficult times. In that sense, the ambition is for him to be an ape Lawrence Of Arabia. And Andy is someone who has the gravitas and the depth to play that. The fun of the movie is to have the scale of it and never lose sight of the intimacy or the soul of it.” Serkis, he asserts, is the key to its success. “He’s our ace in the hole. He’s just amazing.”

                “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2D, 3D, 4DX) invades more than 200 theatres nationwide on July 9 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

                Stronger and united apes in this trailer link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN5KJ4x2oO8&list=PLcZs6n5iZPx-m4mEqWPLnh5bpwU-Wm2Ny&index=6

Dennis Trillo met with real-life assasins in preparation for "The Janitor"

From gay role to action, the versatile award winning actor Dennis Trillo portrays  Cinemalaya's "The Janitor" he plays an ex-cop who hunts down the suspects involved in the most heinous bank robbery in the country’s history. He confessed that he and Direk Mike Tuviera actually met real-life vigilantes to justify his role, there was a character study, he picked some information along the interview so that he could give justice to "Crisanto" the vigilante he was playing. He added that "nung umpisa kinabahan po ako at natakot pero habang iniinterview namen sila, normal lang na tao sila na ganun ang hanapbuhay". Direk Mike Tuviera, told the bloggers that the film was also inspired by Leon: The Professional", so expect a lot of action and character study in this indie movie for Cinemalaya. THE JANITOR, a Cinemalaya 2014 entry under the Directors’ Showcase Category, is written by Aloy Adlawan and directed by Michael Tuviera.

On May 16, 2008, the whole country was shocked upon learning the news about the massacre of the bank employees of the RCBC Cabuyao branch, what was eventually called “the Philippine's bloodiest bank robbery.” The perpetrators behind the incident were able to escape with an estimated P9 to P15 million in cash, and killed ten bank employees in the process. All were methodically shot in the head. The film 'The Janitor' is inspired by this very story. It follows Crisanto Espina, an ex-cop, as he carries out his orders to pursue the criminals involved in the robbery/massacre. But as he obediently hunts down each suspect while dealing with his own personal demons, he begins to realize that he is being consumed by the whole circus of the investigation and begins to question the brand of justice he once revered.

 On July 21 2011, the bloodiest bank heist in the country's history occurred at Mabuhay Savings Bank in San Pedro, Laguna, leaving ten employees dead, all ruthlessly executed. The perpetrators escape with an estimated P10 million in cash. The robbery is suspected to have been conducted by professionals, as they executed their plan with military precision. Wearing Moriones masks to conceal their identities, the thieves disabled the bank's security system and held-up the bank personnel inside while waiting for the vault's time lock to deactivate just before the usual opening time. Once they got the cash, a fatal mistake leads to an all-out bloodbath. Pressured by the people and media to resolve the crime, the authorities secretly order Crisanto Espina, an ex-cop, to handle the case. Eager to redeem his name and earn back the respect of his family, Crisanto diligently hunts down each suspect involved in the massacre. But as he finds each name on his list, he unravels the dirty truth behind his extrajudicial duties.

Get that clear, smooth, glowing skin at SkinTrends

Most people have a phase of their life when their skin doesn't look its best, Everyone wants a radiant,  clear, smooth, and glowing skin. Now that everyone is conscious of how they look, they will find all means just to get a good dermatologist that will help them get clear skin at a fraction of a cost.   Exercise,  good nutrition, and proper hygiene is the key and an experienced dermatologist to keep the pimple and blackheads at bay.


Acne is so ubiquitous it is considered a “necessary evil” by many, worse still many even regard it simply as a “part of growing up”.  For most people, acne comes and eventually goes, there is thus seemingly no need to treat it.  The reality though is that acne when treated improperly or worse, simply allowed to “run its course”, does permanent, long term damage to skin that will be extremely difficult and expensive to repair. To ensure that acne does not cause expensive long term damage, it should be treated, and treated properly, not just at any clinic, but at an acne authority, like Skin Trends.

The key to minimizing the damaging effects of acne is to treat it early, right at its onset. Conventional wisdom and the prevalent practice of acne sufferers is to let pimples “ripen” before attempting any sort of intervention; this is a damaging misconception.  If you wait for more than 2 days before having cystic or pustular pimples treated, chances are, they will have already burst beneath the skin surface, and the resulting pus will have damaged the collagen which will have resulted in deep acne scars.

Not all acne scars are deep scars though. On the nose and chin, acne scars are raised lesions called hypertrophic scars or baby keloids.  This is why in those areas where pimples appear and eventually vanish the area of the skin remains raised after a long time even if it isn’t red and painful anymore.

No hopeless cases only unfinished treatments

The great thing about acne is that it is absolutely controllable.  Acne is in fact a disease; it is an umbrella medical term that includes blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts.   The only reason many seem unresponsive to acne treatments is that they don’t comply with their dermatologist prescribed regimens.  Acne is a slow responding disease that requires weeks or even months of religious treatment.  Those seeming “hopeless cases” are just people who began treatment but who didn’t see it through for one reason or another.  

No substitute for expertise

Dr. Joy Gonzales-Mongcal

The right age to treat acne varies from person to person; some individuals suffer from acne even in their pre-teens.  Dr. Joy Gonzales-Mongcal, owner and head dermatologist of Skin Trends, one of the country’s premiere acne treatment clinics says that the ideal time to treat acne is when the first blackhead or whitehead appears.

Because of the nature of acne, there is no automated treatment modality, and as yet no machine can take the place of an expertly done manual pricking for blackheads or whiteheads.  At Skin Trends Dr. Mongcal personally trains her staff.  After rigorous training, applicants have to pass 3 sets of tests: oral, written and practical. After they have passed this battery of tests, the last hurdle is actual pricking with Dr. Mongcal as the patient.  Dr. Mongcal has acne prone skin that requires occasional pricking. She uses her “flaw” to her advantage and is her own “guinea pig”.  Before a trainee is allowed to handle paying patients, each one needs to prick Dr. Mongcal’s blackheads and whiteheads and when necessary, even her milia.    

Redefining the customer experience

As a result of Dr. Mongcal’s stringent standards, an expertly done pricking at  SkinTrends is significantly less painful than at an ordinary clinic.   Pricking at the whitehead or blackhead stage also prevents acne scars.  If even the reduced pain of a SkinTrends treatment is too much for a patient, SkinTrends offers a treatment with topical anesthesia option for a premium.

SkinTrends recognizes that it is bad patient experiences that result in aborted acne treatments, that’s why SkinTrends devotes thought and resources into improving the patient experience in every way possible.  Apart from being the only dermatological clinic that invests in long and expert training for all its attendants, unlike other clinics that treat patients in crowded wards, SkinTrends clinics feature roomy private cubicles.

Aside from being highly customer centric, the SkinTrends approach is both thorough and meticulous.  Dr. Mongcal stresses:  “At Skintrends, we treat acne in a holistic manner.  First we have to rule out any gynecological causes of acne in female patients. We send these patients to a Gynecologist for a work up. If there are findings that point to a hormonal cause, these underlying causes are corrected. Patients are also advised of lifestyle changes with regards to their diet and sleeping patterns.”


Ultimately, acne itself is not the real issue, the real problem is the long term scarring it causes, as this will be extremely difficult and costly to repair in the future.  A full cycle of treatment early will mean the long term preservation of young, glowing, beautiful skin.  SkinTrends has clinics in Fairview, Quezon Avenue, Eastwood, Cubao, Festival Mall in Alabang, and two in Sta.  Rosa Laguna.